Tragic Bonds (The Bonds That Tie #5)(33)

Gabe groans and rubs a hand over his face. “Fuck, man, I wasn’t expecting something so fucking deep when I asked. I was hoping you needed extra supplies or a new bathroom or something, shit I can actually do.”

I can’t just let this go though, not for this man who’s been in Oli’s corner every step of the way. “Can't North just tell the Medical Board to fuck off or something?”

It has to be that simple, right?

The Dravens own the Gifted community of the West Coast, the same way that my family owns the East Coast. When you’re the longest established family and richer than any of the playboy billionaires that show up in magazines, there's not a lot that people can do to stop you from getting your own way.

I don't imagine that North would have any reservations about doing that for Felix after everything that’s happened.

Felix shrugs and scratches at the back of his neck. “It's not as easy as that, man. You've also got to remember that in the last couple of months, my Bonded Group has had a lot of eyes on us. There are people on the Medical Board who believe that I’m conspiring with you and the others to undermine and break down the Gifted community from the inside.”

Gabe frowns at him and Felix shrugs. “Everybody knows that Sage was possessed or influenced or whatever the fuck it was that happened. Kieran has disobeyed direct orders on several occasions. Even though he was doing so to save lives, it’s still questionable behavior. Then there's everything that went down with Riley and Giovanna. Now that I’ve gone against Payne’s directions, my superior’s direct orders, it doesn't look good.”

Gabe groans and mutters, “Plus, they all know that you're close with the Draven Bonded Group. If there’s anything that the council hates more than their own inability to keep themselves alive, it’s North and the power that our Bonded Group has. The day Oli came back, they all started actively trying to figure out how to get rid of us. It’s only a matter of time.”

I blow out another breath and give Gabe a look. “I thought being on the good guys’ side meant that I didn't have to keep watching my back for knives.”

Gabe snorts at me and says back in a sarcastic tone, “Nah, man. Now you are absolutely going to be stabbed in the back by someone. Only difference is that you have an entire Bonded Group of people who are watching it as well, ready to gut the asshole the moment they try.”

When we finally make it up to the house, Oli immediately takes Sage for a tour, proudly pointing out all of the work that Gabe and I have done on the place. She forgets to mention that she also helped with the tiling and painting, but Gabe glows like an idiot when she sings her praises of his workmanship. I want to give him shit for it, but he's also basically given up having any sort of a social life or downtime to get this place finished, so I let him enjoy the moment instead of being a dick about it.

I check out the fridge and find our family dinner already sitting in there, waiting to be heated up, thanks to someone from the dining hall. I, once again, find myself just a little bit grateful that I ended up in North Draven’s Bonded Group.

It does have its perks.

Felix helps me to get everything in the oven, following the instructions that were taped on the boxes, and I find dishes to plate everything up. There’s plenty of food with the cold salads and sides, and my stomach rumbles at the smells of it all.

Gabe gets to setting the table, and by the time the girls get back—cackling with laughter between them both that makes all three of us guys smile like idiots at them—the entire feast is waiting on the table for everyone to enjoy.

Oli reaches out to the rest of the Bonded Group to let them know that we're all set for dinner, but only Gryphon answers, saying that they have all been caught up with something at the council offices and they’ll be home when they can be.

When Oli tells Sage and Felix this, Sage frowns and mutters, “Kieran said the same thing. I wonder what the hell's happened this time.”

None of us really want to think about it.

Instead, we dig into the food. Oli tries to play it off as though none of this is worrying her, but as time ticks on, she gets more and more agitated as she watches the clock. I don't blame her. My own leg is bouncing under the table as I try to keep my cool and stay calm, for her sake more than my own, and Gabe is chewing on his lip more than he is chewing on his steak.

Finally, when I think I can't take it anymore, Gryphon reaches out to Oli again, but does it so that we can all hear him.

We have a new prisoner in the cells back at the council offices, and we need you guys to come down so that we can all go in for the questioning. Kieran is on his way to you now.

Oli sets down her fork and murmurs this to Sage.

Who is it? I ask as I stand, reaching for the plates of food to get them put away before we leave. North answers for me.

Jericho. Your sister’s Bonded handed himself over to us in search of asylum and his Bonded.





Chapter Ten





Oli



I'm not expecting much from the interviews with Jericho, but I hurry to get changed into my Tac gear just in case. I had luckily left a set of the standard issue pants and shirt in my room, so we don't have to waste time down at North's offices.

Sage and Felix both leave and head back to their house together hand-in-hand and looking a little bit more peaceful now that we had gotten to hang out for a little while.